Sr. Principal Automation & Controls Engineer

TITLE:  Senior Principal, Automation/Control Systems Engineer, Global Engineering 

LOCATION:  Westchester, IL 

REPORTS TO: Director, Global Process Engineering Utilities

The Senior Principal Engineer of Automation/Control Systems Engineer is a key member of the Global Engineering Department and a Subject Matter Expert in the Control Systems and Automation field for Ingredion. This position will provide leadership across a broad range of automation expertise and control systems technical support to all Ingredion facilities worldwide in order to meet manufacturing, production, quality, safety, and business goals. This includes collaboration across multiple disciplines to optimize and troubleshoot control systems, maintain operation technology structure, review proposed projects, and direct support during major project implementation. 

Core Responsibilities: 

• Develop a global automation and control systems strategy in collaboration with local and regional stakeholders to mitigate risks and upgrade obsolete equipment and software.
• Managing the ownership of Aspen Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) servers globally to ensure the reliability of process data collection. Maintain a high level of knowledge of the Aspen software and coordinate with plant administrators to implement, configure, schedule software upgrades, and train users of the Aspen software. Includes coordinating with IT to ensure Aspen end-user experience is continuous.
• Manage Global Technical Support contracts for Automation software and systems in coordination with other departments to ensure the execution and implementation of multiple contracts.
• Develop Security and Network strategies with IT Security and Infrastructure teams to prevent malicious attacks on the Operation Technology (OT) and Process Technology (PT) systems.
• Lead a team of Global Automation Engineers to develop control strategies, execute global contracts, and implement security and network strategies. Facilitate discussions amongst team members to share knowledge and best practices to improve control systems and process operation. Provide the foundation for process data accessibility through standardization.
• Provide Control Systems engineering and project management expertise to support local project engineering teams to ensure that the stated safety, quality, reliability, schedule, and budget objectives are met. 
• Solve complex technical process control problems supporting the business needs at manufacturing facilities. 
• Develop, maintain, and update Global Engineering Instrument and Control standards and specifications. 
• Maintain an elevated level of awareness of current and emerging technologies that will maintain or improve the company’s competitiveness. Evaluate those technologies and lead their implementation on application to improve the safety, reliability, and profitability of operations worldwide. 
• Develop innovative ideas, concepts, or techniques that may be useful to our business and operations. 
• Provide technical support in collaboration with task force teams to promote manufacturing excellence and continuous improvement. 
• Maintain the company’s technical intellectual property to ensure the company’s competitiveness through proper documentation and distribution of best practices in the control systems area. 
• Provide mentorship, coaching, and training to other Automation & Control Systems Engineers in the organization. 

Qualified candidates will have: 

• Bachelor’s degree in a technical discipline and relevant experience in automation/control systems with a minimum of 15 years of experience 
• Demonstrates knowledge of multiple PLC and DCS hardware and software; Emerson DeltaV, Schneider Electric Foxboro, Rockwell CLX, and Siemens S7.
• Experience working in a manufacturing facility and/or system integration with food manufacturing, is preferred.
• Experience with AspenTech MES software administration and training.
• Established experience in developing and implementing control system strategies for both new and existing systems. 
• Proven experience in troubleshooting control system issues, including networks and servers. 
• Proven experience with cybersecurity concepts and principles and the ability to establish standards. 
• Mastery of theory of operation, application, specification, installation, and tuning of control valves and measurement devices. 
• Knowledge of applicable codes and standards, including OSHA, ANSI, IEEE, NEC, NFPA, NEMA, IEC, ISA-88, ISA-95, and ISA/IEC 62443. 
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to present designs and study results and to prepare effective and concise written reports. 
• Strong interpersonal skills, including working effectively with people from diverse cultural background